The biggest West Ham game since Wembley

Saturday’s home clash against Sunderland arguably represents Sam Allardyce’s biggest West Ham game since May 19^th2012.

Under pressure from fans, Allardyce will be well aware that a home win on Saturday will buy him some precious time.

This is a must win game for both teams, as teams at the bottom begin to win games a defeat for either team could see them being cast adrift at the bottom of the Premier League. Especially for Gus Poyet and his Sunderland side, who already find themselves five points behind Saturday’s counterparts West Ham.

This is the second home game in a row which has been tagged as “must win” and it is only December. Compare that to last year, which saw the Hammers push for Europe rather than battling against the drop, this season has been a big disappointment for everyone involved with West Ham United.

Allardyce passed his first “must win” test against Fulham with flying colours with a 3-0 win, the impact sub Ravel Morrison starring of the bench. With captain Kevin Nolan missing through suspension, West Ham fans are licking their lips with the prospect of seeing Ravel in the “Nolan role” just behind the striker.

Morrison is the club’s top goal scorer with three goals and he is the player that gets fans to shuffle to the front of their seats. The former Manchester United man is the most technically gifted player the Hammers have seen since Paolo Di Canio and he will be key for the Hammers on Saturday.

One thing that will boost Big Sam and his troops is statistics and we all know how important statistics are for an Allardyce side. Allardyce will, be well aware that the Irons have the second best defensive record in the league with seven clean sheets, meanwhile the Black Cats have the worst conceding 30 goals.

The Hammers will look to Modibo Maiga to finally break his season’s duck, and put pressure of the Premier League’s leakiest defence, the Mali international is getting closer and closer to scoring. Having hit the post against Fulham with a thumping header, he was a superb Simon Mignolet stop away from putting the Hammers ahead at Anfield. He is edging closer to scoring what would be his first goal in a year.

For Sunderland this is a huge opportunity to close the gap to just two points, the Hammers home form has been rickety to say the least having just won two games at home all season. Should they take an early lead you have to fear for the Irons as Upton Park won’t be a happy place to be if you play in claret and blue.

Gus Poyet replaced former Hammers favourite Paolo Di Canio at the helm in October and has managed his team to two wins, but has failed to muster a single away win.

Poyet hasn’t too many fond memories of Upton Park, his Brighton side received a good hiding in his only previous managerial venture at the Boleyn, a 6-0 defeat in the Hammers single season stay in the Championship.

With no fresh injury worries, Poyet will hope to make the most of the Hammers depleted squad, which sees Stewart Downing join the long list of injury woes for Big Sam and his men. But Poyet is most pleased that West Ham’s record signing Andy Carroll is out. He even went as far as comparing the big man to Lionel Messi. (Yes, you did read that right, Lionel Messi!)

He told gathering press ahead of the clash that in terms of importance to West Ham, Andy Carroll is what Lionel Messi is to Barcelona, key.

He said: “I am sure if you play Barcelona it is better if Messi doesn’t play.”

Before adding, “On paper it will be better for us (that Andy Carroll is injured) but you need to play the game because they are Premier League players.”

The form of West Ham’s flair players such as Morrison and Matt Jarvis will be key to the Hammers chances of victory. When the chips are down Allardyce tends to stand up and be counted.

Team news: West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is hopeful defenders Guy Demel and James Collins will be fit to play despite illness.

Kevin Nolan begins a three-game ban, Ravel Morrison and James Tomkins are injury doubts and Stewart Downing is ruled out with a gashed calf.

Sunderland pair Keiren Westwood and Carlos Cuellar remain sidelined by injury.

Lee Cattermole, Emanuele Giaccherini and Fabio Borini will hope for recalls to the starting line-up.

Last five:

·     12 January 2013 – Sunderland 3-0 West Ham United

·     22 September 2012 – West Ham United 1-1 Sunderland

·     22 May 2011 – West Ham United 0-3 Sunderland

·     5 December 2010 – Sunderland 1-0 West Ham United

·     21 September 2010 – Sunderland 1-2 West Ham United (Carling Cup)

Bowdenwhu Predicts: West Ham United 2 Sunderland 0